Three letters dated April/May 1899 from artist Duncan MacGregor Whyte, Glasgow, to the Duke of Argyll’s factor Hugh McDiarmid, requesting permission to build an artist’s studio (later known as The Studio) at Balephuil. From the archives at Inveraray Castle.
Click here to view 2018.3.1 26Apr1899 ; 2018.3.1 16May1899 ; 2018.3.1 17May1899
Stoneware/ceramic ammonia bottle labelled ‘Plynine Co.y Ltd., Edinburgh, Household Ammonia’ and ‘It is illegal for any other than the Plynine Co.y Ltd. to refill this bottle with ammonia’. Dating from the late 1800’s. It would have had a screw stopper. Found in an old dump at Vaul.
Small clear glass bottle embossed with ELLIMAN’S EMBROCATION. The embrocation (lotion) was first formulated by James Elliman of Slough in 1847 as a muscle rub for animals. It was later sold for use on people, and become famous as an aid for aching muscles and joints. Found around Donald Brown’s house at Vaul.
Green glass beer bottle with a screw top made by George Younger, Meadow & Candleriggs Brewery, Alloa, which was operational during 1897-1963. Found at Garradh Mor, Moss, in 2017 and probably dating from the 1950s.
Framed oil painting of the tea-clipper ‘Taeping’, which was commanded by Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish (1827-1867), to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1886. The painting was probably made in Hong Kong by artist Lai-Sung, who created many similar paintings of sailing ships during 1850-1885.
The two images are of the painting before and after restoration by Egan, Matthews & Rose, Dundee (© Egan, Matthews & Rose 2022).
Framed oil painting of the tea-clipper ‘Demerara’ captained by Colin MacKinnon, Heanish, brother of Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish. Colin MacKinnon obtained his Master’s Certificate on 28 June 1860, after which he captained the Demerara from 1860 to 1863. In 1864, he became Captain of the Ellen Roger, on which he died on 7 September 1965. The painting was probably painted by Lai-Sung, Hong Kong, in the 1860s. The cracked and discoloured varnish appears to show ‘hidden’ Chinese characters.
Image © Egan, Matthews & Rose 2022
Photograph of a page from a notebook from around 1850-1930, with sketches by Ben B MacKinnon, a photograph of old Helensburgh, and a handwritten poem ‘Your Place’, with Mary H Beattie signed in the corner. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there.
Photograph of a page from a notebook from around 1850-1930, with sketches, a photograph of a young man, and a handwritten poem ‘My Place’ by Ben B MacKinnon, 1903. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there.
Photograph of a page from a notebook from around 1850-1930, with the names and addresses of family members. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there.
Photograph of a page from a notebook onto which 16 small sepia portraits have been stuck, from around 1850-1930. The notebook was owned by a relation of the MacKinnon / MacLean family of Balephuil who ran the shop there, and the photos are probably of that family.
